Reinforced concrete structure



Patented June 21, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

8. CHARLES.

REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-26,1918.

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REINFORCED coucnm STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-26' l9l8.

Patented June 21, 1921.

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SEWARD CHARLES, OF WASHKNG'TUN, DISTRIGI OF COLUMBIA.

REINFGBGED CON Application filed March 26, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it'lmown that l, Snwano Cnnnnrs, a citizen of the United States,residing at v l/ashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful linprovements in Reinforced Concrete Structures;and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to concrete structures in general and to means forproducing the same, but has reference more particularly to novel andimproved means for reinforcing such concrete structures, and foraccurately spacing and retaining their reinforcing elements in positionduring the process of pouring, shaping or otherwise forn'iing thecompleted structure.

This invention has for an object the pr0- duction of monolithicreinforced concrete structures characterized by an unusual degree ofstrength, rigidity and durability, as compared with their extreme lightweight.

The invention also provides for, and makes possible the rapid productionof such monolithic concrete structures with great accuracy andprecision; and, While equally applicable to the construction ofbuildings, bridges, culverts, conduits, storm se ers, aqueducts,subways, tunnels and like structures of reinforced concrete or othersuitable moldable material, the present invention is primarily designedand adapted for the manufacture of sea-going vessels. ln this latteruse, therefore, by way of exemplilication, the invention will now beparticularly described and thereafter pointed out by the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application forLetters Patent, and whereupon like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts in the several. views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical central sectional view illustrating,diagrammatically my invention as applied to the hull of a concretevessel.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing in horizontal section the bow of aconcrete veseel below its main deck.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding with Fig. 2, but taken at the oppositeend or stern of a vessel.

Fig. 4 is a vertical diagrammatic section Specification of LettersPatent.

llatented June 21, 13521.

Serial no. ceases.

alren transversely through the entire strucg. 5 is a fragi ientarydetail View, showing in perspective my impro vcd double re inforcingelements, and means for accurately spacing the same.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view taken transversely through eitherthe hull, decks, or partitions of a vessel, and

Fig. '7 is also a fragmentary view of one reinforcing bar in sideelevation, broken away to expose an attaching eye or loop formedtherein.

, Reference being-had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 indicatesthe hull of a vessel, and 2, 2 horizontal decks thereof, the same beingintersected by longitudinal pan titions 3, and by transverse partitionst at frequent intervals, as shown by l4L-, thus serving bulkheads todivide the entire vessel into a multiplicity of individual cells orcompartments 5.

These compartments may be independent, or be made to communicate asshown, by agency of through ports or openings 6 in said longitudinalpartitions 3, and bv openings such as '1' the transv rse partitions l.'lHey may or may not be provided with doors or suitable closures (notshown), but are preferably of substantially circular form for theaforesaid purpose of establishcommunication between adjacent com- J Iand also for reducing weight without materially weakening theirrespecive partitions.

The reinforcing means employed throughout the hull, decks, partitions,and the entire unitary construction of a vessel, include all 1,

a double series of vertical and horizontally arranged flexible metallicbars 8 and 9 respec .vcly, preferably of flat merchant iron and ofsuitable cross sectional area, as best shown by Fig. 5 of the drawingf:vThese bars 8 and 9 are all deformed at suitable and regular intervals byeyes 10 punched out of the bars themselves, as best shown by F 5 and 7,and for purposes later to appear.

ln structural arrangement all bars 8 are crossed by bars 9, with oneseries of said eyes 10 equidistant from each point of intersection, andalso oppositely disposed with relation to another series of eyes 10similarly formed upon a duplicate set of crossed bars 8 and 9, as willbe seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 6. By these figures also it will beobserved that the aforesaid duplicate sets of reinforcing bars 8 and 9are in turn spaced apart and connected by stirrups 11 of relativelystiff wire or rod iron, terminating at both ends in corresponding arcs12. It will also be seen that these arcs 12 are positioned in parallelplanes at right angles to that occupied by their respective rods orstirrups 11, and that each passes completely through one series of eyes10 upon their re spective intersecting bars 8 and 9 of each set, therebyaccurately spacing the aforesaid oppositely disposed sets of reinforcingbars, and effectually guarding against any displacement thereof duringthe process of pouring or otherwise applying concrete to the doublemetallic skeleton thus produced.

To this skeleton frame is applied suitable concrete by any suitablemeans, and of suit able consistency, although experience has shown thata relatively dry mixture of concrete possesses a greater compressivestrength than concrete applied in a semi-liquid condition. Such amixture is therefore preferred, and, as shown by Fig. 6, an additionalelement 13 may, when desired, be added outside of each set of bars 8-9,near opposite sides of the walls of the structure, this element 13comprising a permanent metal fabric of relatively small mesh in largesheets, being inwardly looped upon itself at frequent intervals at 14 asa means of uniformly offsetting the sheets 13 from their adjacentreinforcing bars 8 and 9 to which they are wired as shown at 15, Fig. 6.By this means a uniform deposit of concrete outside of the reinforcingbars 8 and 9 is insured upon both sides of the structure, the

said reinforcing bars being thus uniformly embedded and protected fromthe action of water, the screen 13 serving also to confine thereasonably dry concrete, and to assist when desired in shaping orforming the structure.

Finally, an outside finish 16 of any suitable waterproof material istrowele'd upon, or otherwise applied to, the oppositely disposed screens13, before the main body of concrete 17 has taken its initial set, thecon crete body 17 and outer finishing surface 16 being securely bondedtogether through the meshes of said screens 13 to complete thestructure.

When applied thus to the production of unitary hulls for vessels, itwill be observed that a remarkably staunch and rigid structure isproduced, based upon a combined arch and beam theory of construction, so

that forces exerted upon the shell or hull of the vessel, are in partcarried by the arch structure thereof, and partly by the trans versepartitions 4: serving as beams between its transverse walls, while atthe same time the partitions 3, the decks 2, 2, the sides, and keelsonof the vessel constitute a most effective system of longitudinal braces.

Having thus described an embodiment of my invention, it should beunderstood that same is not confined for its'patentable novelty to theprecise structural arrangement and combination of parts shown anddescribed, nor yet to the proportion of parts, the material, ormaterials indicated, nor the article produced. Neither am I limited norrestricted to any particular method of pouring or shaping concretestructures, since any known form or manner of construction may beemployed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I do claim, however, and now desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A concrete structure having reinforcing elements embedded thereinincluding in com bination oppositely disposed series of intersectingmetallic bars, and arcs of relatively stiff wire interwoven with saidbars to secure them together at their points of intersection.

2. A concrete structure having reinforcing elements embedded thereinincluding in combination oppositely disposed series of intersectingmetallic bars, eyes formed upon said bars, and arcs of relatively stiffwire interwoven through said eyes to secure the bars aforesaid togetherat their points of intersection'.

3. A concrete structure having embedded therein oppositelydisposed'series of inter secting reinforcing bars, in combination withinterposed stirrups, each of said stirrups arranged and adapted toconnect the bars of each series and to space one series of said barsfrom the other.

i. A concrete structure having embedded near each outer face thereof aseries of inter secting reinforcing bars, in combination with stirrupsterminating at each end in arcs adapted to connect the bars of eachseries and to space one series of said bars from the other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SEWARD CHARLES.

Witnesses:

WM. E. Drnn, G. M. CHARLES.

